Stop 4: Void Dragon Armory
This was the shop Runar had actually been interested in visiting.
The Void Dragon Armory specialized in advanced combat equipment, particularly nanotechnology-based armor systems.
The shop was different from the others—more utilitarian, designed for serious cultivators who needed serious protection.
A grizzled Supernova realm cultivator—clearly a veteran warrior—approached them.
"Looking for combat gear?"
"Yes," Runar said. "Specifically, I heard you have nano combat suits?"
The man's expression sharpened. "You heard right. Follow me."
He led them to a private showroom where several combat suits were displayed on mannequins.
"These are Adaptive Nano Combat Suits—ANCS for short," he explained. "Unlike normal armor that's fixed, these can be customized on a nanoscale. You design the suit's structure, defensive formations, even aesthetic appearance, and the nanobots reconfigure themselves accordingly."
He pulled up a holographic interface. "See? You can upgrade the suit anytime you want. Learn a new formation? Add it to the suit. Discover a better defensive pattern? Reconfigure the nanobots. The suit evolves with you."
"What's the grade?" Celestia asked.
"Base suits are Supreme Grade," the veteran said. "But they can be upgraded to Primordial or even higher if you have the knowledge and resources. The nanobots are just platforms—their effectiveness depends on how you program them."
He grinned. "In the hands of someone with advanced formation knowledge and runic understanding, these suits become absolute masterworks. I've seen cultivators turn Supreme-grade ANCS into Chaos-grade equipment through pure skill and customization."
Runar's eyes gleamed. With his Runic comprehension and formation knowledge, he could turn these suits into something extraordinary.
"We'll take two," he said. "Your best models."
"Smart choice." The veteran pulled out two sleek suits—they looked like form-fitting bodysuits made of liquid metal. "These are our Infinity-class ANCS. Top of the line. Come with a comprehensive programming interface and 10^18 nanobots per suit. More than enough for any configuration you can imagine."
He handed them instruction manuals—thick jade slips containing everything about nanobot programming, formation integration, and suit customization.
"Fair warning: these suits require significant technical knowledge to use properly. Most people never customize beyond basic defensive formations. But if you know what you're doing..." He smiled. "The sky's the limit."
"What about divine sense blocking?" Seraphina asked practically.
"Built-in feature. Blocks up to Black Hole realm perception when configured properly. Can be upgraded to block Quasar realm with the right formations."
They purchased:
Two Infinity-class ANCS Complete programming guides Additional nanobot reserves (for repairs and upgrades) Formation pattern libraries (Supreme-grade defensive formations)
Total cost: 500 billion spirit stones.
"That's the most practical thing we've bought all day," Runar said, genuinely pleased.
"You're going to spend all your free time programming those suits, aren't you?" Celestia asked knowingly.
"Absolutely."
As they moved between shops, the attention grew impossible to ignore.
Word had spread across Velsinor City—across Telstra—across the entire Federation network. Two young cultivators from a previously unknown Tier 1 family had been invited to Prime Origin Academy. The youngest invitees in recent history. Both impossibly powerful for their age.
And they were shopping in public.
"That's them!" someone shouted. "Runar Cross and Celestia Stormwind!"
A crowd began forming.
"Can I get an autograph?"
"Take a picture with me!"
"When did you start cultivating?"
"How does it feel to be invited to Prime Origin?"
Reporters appeared from nowhere, cameras and recording devices floating around them.
"Runar Cross! Federation News Network! Can you comment on your invitation to Prime Origin Academy?"
"Miss Stormwind! Cultivation Daily! What's your secret to such rapid advancement?"
"Are the rumors true that you can fight multiple realms above your cultivation?"
Security guards—employees of the shopping district—tried to maintain order but were overwhelmed.
Caspian and Jake positioned themselves protectively around their families, but the crowd kept pressing closer.
Then a voice cut through the chaos:
"Move aside! I'm coming through!"
A young man pushed through the crowd arrogantly. He was well-dressed, clearly wealthy, cultivation at Satellite Orbit Stage 200. His family crest marked him as part of a Tier 5 merchant clan.
"So these are the famous 'geniuses,'" he said mockingly, looking Runar and Celestia up and down. "They look ordinary to me. Probably just got lucky with their invitations. Political connections, no doubt."
The crowd went silent.
Runar sighed internally. Another one.
"And you are?" Celestia asked coldly, her patience for arrogant young masters completely exhausted after yesterday's incident.
"I am Marcus Goldweave, heir to the Goldweave Trading Empire," he announced proudly. "My family has produced fifteen Neutron Star cultivators over the centuries. Real power, not fake genius like whatever you two are selling."
"We're not selling anything," Runar said calmly. "We're shopping with our families. Please move."
"Make me," Marcus sneered. "Unless you're too afraid? Everyone thinks you're so strong, but I bet—"
Runar had had enough.
He released a fraction—an infinitesimally small fraction—of his real aura.
Not his cultivation. Just his presence. The weight of someone who'd mastered 1,049 Laws, who'd spent sixteen years training in accelerated time, who'd fought and killed Red Giant demons.
The air around Runar shimmered slightly. Reality seemed to bend. For just a moment, everyone nearby felt like they were standing at the edge of an abyss, staring into infinite depth.
Marcus Goldweave's eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed unconscious.
Several reporters also fainted. The crowd backed away rapidly, sudden fear replacing their excited curiosity.
Runar immediately suppressed his aura again, returning to his normal pleasant demeanor.
"My apologies," he said to the stunned security guards. "The gentleman seemed unwell. Perhaps someone should call medical services?"
The crowd dispersed quickly after that. Nobody wanted to risk insulting the person who could knock someone unconscious with just his presence.
The remainder of their shopping trip was remarkably peaceful.
Afternoon - Saying Goodbye to Places
After lunch, they split into two groups. Parents went home to rest (exhausted from the intense shopping), while Runar and Celestia took Caspian's ship on a tour of meaningful locations.
Celestia's Childhood Park
Their first stop was a small cultivation park where Celestia had played as a child—before the two weeks of accelerated growth.
The park was modest, with spirit grass lawns, a small pond filled with low-grade spirit fish, and training equipment for young cultivators.
"I used to come here every day," Celestia said softly, walking through the familiar space. "Practice my spear forms against those training dummies. Mom would sit on that bench and watch me."
She approached one of the dummies—reinforced wood designed to withstand Stardust Awakening level attacks.
"I remember thinking these were indestructible," she laughed. "Now I could destroy this entire park without trying."
Runar took her hand. "Power changed us. But the memories are still real."
"I know." She squeezed his hand. "It's just strange. I feel like I should still be that five-year-old girl who struggled to complete a basic spear form. But I'm not her anymore. I'm... someone else."
"You're still you," Runar said firmly. "Just more of you. Stronger, wiser, more capable. But the core of who you are—the determination, the kindness, the fierce loyalty—that hasn't changed."
Celestia smiled. "When did you become so good with words?"
"Sixteen years of contemplation in accelerated time. I had a lot of practice."
They sat on the bench where Seraphina used to sit, watching the park's other young cultivators—children between five and ten years old, practicing basic techniques, laughing and playing.
"That was us, two weeks ago," Celestia mused. "In chronological age, at least."
"Do you regret it?" Runar asked. "Growing up so fast?"
"No," she said immediately. "I'd do it all again. Every moment. Especially..." She glanced at him. "Especially the moments with you."
They took mental snapshots—not with technology, but with perfect cultivation memory, ensuring they'd never forget this place or this moment.
The Continental Archive
Next, they visited the library where Jake worked—the Continental Archive, a massive repository of cultivation knowledge open to all citizens.
"Your father practically lived here when you were growing up," Lirien had told them. "He wanted to find every scrap of knowledge that might help you advance."
They found Jake's workspace—a corner desk in the research section, covered with jade slips and old texts.
A small holographic photo sat on the desk: Jake, Lirien, and baby Runar, taken the day he was born.
Runar picked it up carefully.
"One month old," he said softly. "I looked so normal."
"You were normal," came a voice.
They turned to find Elder Thorne—the Planetary Core cultivator who'd examined Runar after his first physique awakening—approaching with a warm smile.
"Elder Thorne," Runar greeted respectfully.
"I heard you were leaving for Prime Origin Academy," the elder said. "I wanted to say goodbye. And..." He pulled out a jade slip. "Give you this."
"What is it?"
"A technique I developed over centuries but never perfected. It might be too advanced for me, but for someone like you..." He pressed it into Runar's hands. "Consider it a gift from an old scholar to a young genius. Maybe you'll finish what I started."
Runar scanned the jade slip quickly. It was a fascinating spatial technique focused on layered dimensional folding. Not revolutionary, but clever.
"Thank you, Elder Thorne," Runar said sincerely. "I'll study it carefully."
"Do more than study it," the elder said. "Improve it. That's what real genius does—takes what came before and makes it better. I have a feeling you'll do great things, Runar Cross."
They talked for a few more minutes before the elder departed, leaving Runar and Celestia alone in the quiet archive.
"Everyone has been so kind," Celestia observed.
"They're proud," Runar said. "We're representing Telstra, in a way. The first from this planet to attend Prime Origin Academy in decades. They want us to succeed."
Their final stop was a public rooftop garden at the city's edge—a place with spectacular views of Velsinor City's skyline against Telstra's double-sun sunset.
They stood at the railing, watching the city lights begin to activate as evening approached.
"Two weeks ago, I was just a five-year-old girl with decent talent," Celestia said. "Now I'm leaving for the most prestigious academy in human civilization, with power that rivals cultivators centuries older than me."
"Scared?" Runar asked.
"Terrified," she admitted. "Prime Origin Academy will have thousands of geniuses. People who've trained their entire lives. Descendants of Supremes. Prodigies from the richest, most powerful families in all of human space. And I'm..." She trailed off.
"Strong enough to stand among them," Runar finished. "Celestia, you broke through Stage 333 of Stardust Awakening. You achieved Satellite Orbit Stage 450. You've mastered five Laws to 100% and can perform perfect Law Fusion. Your combat power rivals Red Giants. You're not just ready for the academy—you're going to excel there."
"What if I'm not good enough?" she whispered.
Runar turned to face her, taking both her hands.
"Then we'll get better together," he said firmly. "That's what partners do. We support each other, push each other, protect each other. You don't have to face the academy alone, Celestia. I'll be right there beside you. Always."
"Promise?" Her voice was small, vulnerable in a way she rarely showed.
"I promise," Runar said. "On my cultivation, on my life, on everything I hold sacred—I will always be there for you. No matter what comes, no matter how difficult things get, we face it together."
Celestia's eyes glistened with tears. "I love you, Runar Cross. I know I said it before, but I need you to hear it again. I love you so much it terrifies me."
"I love you too," Runar said, and kissed her.
This wasn't like their first kiss in the Pocket Universe—brief, tentative, testing. This was deep, passionate, filled with sixteen years of accumulated feelings and the desperate certainty of two people about to face unknown challenges.
They stood there as Telstra's double moons rose, painting the sky in shades of silver and blue, two figures silhouetted against the cosmos.
When they finally pulled apart, both were smiling despite the tears.
"Whatever happens at the academy," Celestia said, "at least I'll have this memory. This perfect moment."
"We'll have more perfect moments," Runar promised. "This is just the beginning."
They stayed on the rooftop for hours, talking about hopes and fears, making promises and plans, simply being together without the weight of training or family expectations.
Just Runar and Celestia, in love, preparing to face the universe together.
Eventually, they returned home to find their families waiting—parents who smiled knowingly but asked no questions, respecting the privacy of young love.
"One more day," Jake said as they gathered for dinner. "Make it count."
And they would.